“Time for her to get out of that chair and be free”
Sierra Aylmard-Mackie and mom Nancy hit the water in their new pool over the weekend. The Children’s Wish Foundation donated the funds to build the pool for Sierra, who has Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder.
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
When it comes to a wish, the weather doesn’t really matter.
It was a cold Sunday in Oshawa on Oct. 18, the sun was out, but scattered bits of snow were falling from the sky and a harsh wind made the day feel colder than its stated 5 C.
Despite that, Nancy Aylmard-Mackie and her daughter Sierra were going swimming. It was Sierra’s wish.
Sierra, who turned 15 on that cold Sunday, has lived with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder her whole life.
Despite her disabilities and being wheelchair-bound, Nancy says her daughter has always been a happy person, and it showed on her birthday, flashing a smile as she was surrounded by her friends and family.
Through the Children’s Wish Foundation, Nancy was able to give her daughter something that has always made her smile: a place to swim.
“She really loves to get in the water,” she says. “I think it’s a time for her to get out of that chair and be free.”
However, the wish didn’t come easy. After the pool was built by the Children’s Wish Foundation, an obstacle arose as to how the wheelchair-bound Sierra was going to get into the pool, the walls of which rose more than five feet off the ground.
Then the community stepped up.
With support from the Children’s Wish Foundation, which provided funds for wood supplies, local contractor Rutherford Aquatic Services provided their services free of charge to build a deck that would bring Sierra to pool level.
Reliance Industries installed the gas line for the pool’s heater free of charge, and assistance was also given by local contractor R. Havery Landscaping and Custom Horticulture Contracting and Taunton Pools.
Nancy said she was beyond grateful for the assistance the companies provided.
It is Nancy’s hope that others will also be able to enjoy her daughter’s wish.
Sierra lives in a home through Community Living, and spends weekends with her mother in Oshawa. It is Nancy’s hope that other children who are part of the Community Living program can come and use the pool as well.